Evaluation of a Teen Dating Violence Prevention Intervention among Urban Middle-School Youth Using Youth Participatory Action Research: Lessons Learned from Start Strong Boston

Abstract

Almost half of adolescents aged 11 to 14 have dated and between 10% and 30% report experiencing Teen Dating Violence (TDV). However, there are no evidence-based TDV prevention interventions designed for afterschool, community-based settings with middle-school youth, in high-risk neighborhoods. Start Strong Boston (SSB) is a model that fills all three gaps, founded on partnerships between the Boston Public Health Commission, community afterschool sites, academic experts and evaluators, and youth. Here, we describe the SSB program and discuss how this collaboration built upon successes of this peer-engaged intervention, by developing and implementing a youth participatory action research (YPAR) evaluation study of SSB. Use of the YPAR framework tested the feasibility of employing Peer Researchers in an interdisciplinary evaluation team. We describe how through participation in evaluation research, Peer Researchers improve professional and leadership skills while informing measurement and conceptualization of a program affecting their own neighborhoods. Lessons learned are presented.

The Role of School Social Support and School Social Climate in Dating Violence Victimization Prevention among Adolescents in Europe

“…Sexual dating violence includes getting somebody to have a sexual act against their will (regardless the sexual act takes place) or engaging into sexual activities with a person who is unable to express their consent. Finally, stalking regards to harassment that causes the victim the feeling of fear [3,4].…”

“…Dating violence among teenagers is a behaviour that occurs in the context of an intimate relationship between young people [4]. Most studies on aggression in young romantic relationships indicate that both boys and girls may be victims of this kind of violence, although girls are reportedly more likely to experience victimization than boys, also the severity and types of violence can be different due to gender [5][6][7].…”

“…Dating violence affects not only the current functioning of young people, but it has long-term consequences related to their development, affecting how they learn to cope with difficult situations and negatively impacting on their health in a number of different ways [13,14]. Researchers have highlighted the long-term health consequences including: suicidal thoughts, mental illness, psychoactive substance abuse disorders, auto-aggression, depression, eating disorders [4] as well as short-term reduced academic performance and injuries requiring medical care (partner aggression, self-aggression) [15]. Therefore, it is so important for young people to know how to defend themselves against dating violence and, in order to achieve this, use all the resources they possess.…”

The Role of School Social Support and School Social Climate in Dating Violence Prevention among Adolescents in Europe

“…Dating violence amongst teenagers is a behavior that occurs in the context of an intimate relationship between young people. It can be manifest in various forms: physical, emotional, and sexual, and can be driven by manipulation, use of power, or control [1]. Most studies on aggression in young romantic relationships indicate that both boys and girls may be victims of this kind of violence, although girls are reportedly more likely to experience victimization than boys, also the severity and types of violence can be different due to gender [2].…”

“…Dating violence affects not only the current functioning of young people, but it has long-term consequences related to their development, affecting how they learn to cope with difficult situations and negatively impacting on their health in a number of different ways [3,4]. Researchers have highlighted the long-term health consequences including; suicidal thoughts, mental illness, psychoactive substance abuse disorders, auto-aggression, depression, eating disorders, [1] as well as short-term reduced academic performance and injuries requiring medical care (partner aggression, self-aggression) [5].…”